Download your copy today and keep it nearby as you go through this busy season.

Review the qualifications and download nomination forms online. The nomination deadline for all awards is March 30.

Officers
President: Philip R. Hulme; Brewer & Hulme CPAs
Vice President: Carol Wagner; Abbott Stringham & Lynch
Secretary: Karl-Heinz Lachnit; Silicon Valley Law Group
Treasurer: Lynda R. Boman; Boman Accounting Group, Inc.
Past President: David J. Neighbors, SingerLewak

Directors
(Second year of a two-year term)
Patricia M. Kaufman; McGilloway, Ray, Brown & Kaufman
Robert A. Lee; Robert Lee & Associates LLP
Philip Taluban; Ocean Mist Farms
Jonathan Straus; Lautze & Lautze

(First year of a two-year term)
Elaine Cardiel; Berger Lewis Accountancy Corporation
Megan Thompson; Michael S. Thompson, Valuation & Forensic Accounting
Gerald Nangoy; eBay
Howard Turetsky; San Jose State University

CalCPA Council Representatives
Philip R. Hulme, Carol Wagner, David J. Neighbors, Ben J. Mozzetti Jr.

As we look toward next year, we would like to thank our current board members who continue to serve this year.

Keep an eye on the CalCPA Peninsula/Silicon Valley Chapter’s website for program details.

Date: Saturday, May 19

Date: Friday, Feb. 10

Location: Techmart Center, Santa Clara

Register online.

In January, we presented Griffith “Griff” Lewis with this year’s Silicon Valley/San José Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award. Griff, along with Alex Berger, founded Berger Lewis Accountancy Corporation in 1949. The firm has grown to 60 professionals in two offices (San José and Santa Cruz) and is well respected for its expertise and commitment to the community.

I met Griff through Rotary. In fact, he voted against my application for membership in the club! I guess he thought one CPA in the chapter was more than enough. Whenever I have brought colleagues to visit our Rotary lunches, Griff always insists they sit by him—and then tries to recruit them to Berger Lewis. Griff is a tireless community leader and contributor who has served as treasurer of our Rotary chapter for many years and always participates in our community service projects.

He has led through example and mentored CalCPA leaders, including Ben Towne, our chapter’s immediate past president. Although we’ve never been associated professionally, Griff has always made himself available to me when it comes to career advice. He is a regular attendee at Honorees Night and was kind enough to attend our most recent installation event. Griff has seen many changes in the way CPAs serve their clients and still takes care of the needs of several where he has maintained long-term relationships.

Griff has a level of loyalty and integrity that makes him a role model to those around him. This manifests itself in the lives he has touched in the Rotary Club of San José East/Evergreen, at Berger Lewis and in CalCPA.

The chapter honored Alex Berger with its first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and it is fitting to now honor Griff, Alex’s longtime business partner.

Most of us know Vince Chin, our chapter’s program director for more than a decade. Vince has always gone above and beyond his job description and, when needed, has been kind enough to offer me advice on how to be a leader in this organization. He has always been there with an encouraging word and an outgoing personality that made him a perfect cheerleader for our organization.

Vince is facing some health challenges and, while he has told me that he is ready and willing to face these challenges, I’m keeping him in my thoughts and encourage you to do the same.

January is a great time to set goals for the new year. At SingerLewak we use the Balanced Scorecard as a way to hold each other accountable for goals we set for ourselves. This methodology is progressive and not solely based on charge hours or the “eat what you kill” book of business model. The success of a firm is the result of a team members playing to their respective strengths to achieve results.

When setting your goals for the year, don’t forget the ones that should be closest to your heart. Spending time with loved ones can sometimes be a challenge in our profession. Making sure the time we have is of the highest quality is more important than merely being in the room while reality shows are the entertainment for the evening. Ask your family open-ended questions about their day and actively listen.

Also, take care of yourself. We sometimes can forget this in the midst of deadlines and other responsibilities. Yet without our health it is difficult to be there for others. A goal of 45 minutes of moderate exercise six times a week is a great achievement. Moderate exercise may be brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming or lifting weights in a circuit.

Jan. 18 is the day for our members to visit legislators in Sacramento. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to our profession by helping to support CalCPA-backed legislation. The government relations staff does a great job of briefing us on talking points and pairing us with veterans who have participated in these visits many times. The day is time well spent to protect the interests of California CPAs.

Our chapter will be holding our annual Honorees Night Jan. 25. This celebration is not to be missed. The presidents who made this 3,000-member chapter what it is today will be honored for their service to our profession, our organization and our community. Local college and university students will be recognized for their academic achievement and presented with scholarships to continue their education. And our chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to an individual who, through their body of work, has made an impact on the professional and civic community.

Help legislators understand the issues facing California CPAs and sign up to attend CPA Day at the Capitol. How can your presence help? Take a look at our successful 2011 advocacy efforts for an idea and read the experience of past participants.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your presence!

More information and applications are available online.

If state-level leadership isn’t your calling right now, there are plenty of opportunities at the chapter level—from board member to committee chair—to step up and showcase your skills. Find more information online.